HC Deb 20 December 1982 vol 34 c659
9. Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by what total unemployment has risen in the county of Clwyd and in Wales since May 1979.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

Between May 1979 and November 1982 the number of unemployed claimants in Wales increased by 95,203. In Clwyd between May 1979 and October 1982 the number of registered unemployed increased by 13,779. Between October 1982, when the new basis of count was introduced, and November 1982 the number of unemployed claimants increased by 260.

Mr. Jones

What is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to do to help my constituents at Courtauld's Deeside mill in Flint who will start the new year on the dole? Does the Secretary of State know that the Government have allowed more than £260 million worth of man-made fibres to enter Britain? Can we have some action rather than bluster?

Mr. Edwards

I well appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern about that plant. My Department is in close touch with Courtauld's management about the matter. I understand that an urgent appraisal of the position is currently being undertaken in the light of the plant's order book and it would not be helpful for me to comment further on the immediate outlook until that appraisal is completed. Deeside is a special development area. I recently announced that Flint is to be designated as the site of the second enterprise zone in Wales. Every possible assistance will be given to any new investment project undertaken by Courtauld's or any other company in that area.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Clwyd, which once had the lowest rate of unemployment, and now has the highest, has a special problem, which derives largely from its past overdependence on certain basic industries, notably steel, and that it was the failure of the Labour Government to deal with the problems arising from the closure of steel plants in good time that has caused this problem to arise in an acute form at the worst possible moment?

Mr. Edwards

It is because we are moving away from that over-dependence that I welcome the variety of projects coming to the area, including the BICC/Corning fibre optics project, Squibb Surgicare, health care manufacturers, Kimberley Clarke, paper tissues, Pendy Plastics and Deeside Titanium. That is a measure of the variety of new industry in the area.